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Is it possible to make it to the NFL if your Irish?

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  • #32
    nfl mad
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5 ✭nfl mad


    tallaghtoutlaws wrote: »
    A good start to trying the sport is joining an IAFL team here in Ireland.

    http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=70888669&postcount=169

    But realistically unless you start at a high school level in the US your chances are pretty slim. Another route would be to pay about 30-60k to go to a D1 college and try walk on but even then you are at a disadvantage.

    There are a few ex IAFL guys playing in lower division college football DII or DIII and some more trying to make it happen. They most likely wont make the NFL but the experience they will gain from stepping from the IAFL into NCAA football would be huge.

    As I said give the sport a try to start and see if you actually like playing it or are any good at it. If you are as good the athlete you say you are you wont have any problems fitting in if you listen to the coaches.

    Thanks for the link tallaght, i might give a go shur, but the NFL thing look's bleak:(. I dont understand why people seem to think i signed up on board's to start a thread, only to tell lies, nor do i care. That must be the way it works on here or something.:confused:


  • #33
    bruschi
    Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 4,149 Mod ✭✭✭✭bruschi


    tallaghtoutlaws wrote: »
    As for the Aussies they fit perfectly into punting because their own ball is similar in shape and the AFL has them kicking the ball the same way you would expect a punter to do it. They do it for the most part of every game they play in so they hon their skills.

    just on that, would disagree in part. Aussie Rules ball is more different to an American football than a rugby ball, and the kicking technique is hugely different. the punt has a much longer and higher follow through, and the spin on the ball is massivley different. AFL is about accuracy and length, whereas NFL is more about height first, then length and accuracy.

    Ben Graham was on an AFL game there last year at half time doing a sideline interview thing, and he had a ball with him. when he tried to kick it, he was all over the place. holding it arseways, kicking it wrong, and he ended up shanking it so badly! and he even said he couldnt get used to it after not kicking one for years.

    the reason they are suited is just the mechanics of actually kicking a ball from the hand. in much the same way a gaelic player would be able to adapt easily enough to aussie rules, they have the basics right. which is why I would think a rugby player should be able to adapt too. but as you say, gaelic and soccer players can too, because they have the mechanics right of striking a ball from the ground.

    and dodge, 2 aussie rules punters is hardly an insane amount! :pac: there doesnt seem to be much more interest in getting players over though which is surprising. some big kickers have retired in AFL in the last couple of years.


  • #34
    Reganio 2
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,732 ✭✭✭Reganio 2


    David James the goalkeeper I am pretty sure was over with the Miami Dolphins on an unofficial trial at some stage a number of years ago as well. Don't know if he was any use (I doubt it, its David James) but pretty sure their were pics/ a video of him trying it out.


  • #35
    tallaghtoutlaws
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,067 ✭✭✭tallaghtoutlaws


    bruschi wrote: »
    just on that, would disagree in part. Aussie Rules ball is more different to an American football than a rugby ball, and the kicking technique is hugely different. the punt has a much longer and higher follow through, and the spin on the ball is massivley different. AFL is about accuracy and length, whereas NFL is more about height first, then length and accuracy.

    Ben Graham was on an AFL game there last year at half time doing a sideline interview thing, and he had a ball with him. when he tried to kick it, he was all over the place. holding it arseways, kicking it wrong, and he ended up shanking it so badly! and he even said he couldnt get used to it after not kicking one for years.

    the reason they are suited is just the mechanics of actually kicking a ball from the hand. in much the same way a gaelic player would be able to adapt easily enough to aussie rules, they have the basics right. which is why I would think a rugby player should be able to adapt too. but as you say, gaelic and soccer players can too, because they have the mechanics right of striking a ball from the ground.

    and dodge, 2 aussie rules punters is hardly an insane amount! :pac: there doesnt seem to be much more interest in getting players over though which is surprising. some big kickers have retired in AFL in the last couple of years.

    My opinion of it is based on experience and what I have seen from it. When I worked in North Carolina I worked with Brits and Aussies and South Africans and New Zealanders and we played touch football once with the Americans and 2 of the Aussies played Aussie Rules back home and they had fairly sharp punts without adjusting their mechanics as the way they kick as in the movement was similar as a punter. After I fixed how they hold the ball and foot placement and slightly adjusted their stance and kicking motion they were nailing them.

    I tried the same with a brit who kicked in Rugby and another paddy who played Soccer and Gaa and both of them were a lot more work as their kicking motion out of their hands were not as sharp but they had the basics down.

    From experience coaching the sport I find soccer or Gaa players are better place kickers than Rugby players. And being out in UCD I get a lot of all 3 on the team.


  • #36
    bruschi
    Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 4,149 Mod ✭✭✭✭bruschi


    Reganio 2 wrote: »
    David James the goalkeeper I am pretty sure was over with the Miami Dolphins on an unofficial trial at some stage a number of years ago as well. Don't know if he was any use (I doubt it, its David James) but pretty sure their were pics/ a video of him trying it out.

    I remember seeing that. I think it was just a sky sports/ sports company promo thing. Olindo Mare was kicking penalties on James. no trial or anything, just a promo thing, like Beckham did with Reggie Bush a couple of years ago.


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  • #37
    Syferus
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,966 ✭✭✭Syferus


    tallaghtoutlaws wrote: »
    Why would they when they have an already large playing pool who can already kick and as someone said have been doing for years.

    As for kicking the ball it is completely different so there would be a high chance a lot of development would be needed. The amount of Rugby guys I have come across in my time trying to kick an American football that just couldn't adjust to the size of the US ball even though they were flawless with a rugby ball.

    Most recent guy was a guy who is plays high level rugby here and he just couldn't get his head around the ball being snapped to him and the run up needed to kick it. My best kickers are a GAA player and Soccer player.

    Its mad that people automatically assume Rugby kicker because of the similar shape of the balls would be the better choice. Their ball is squarer in shape and a lot bigger.

    As for the Aussies they fit perfectly into punting because their own ball is similar in shape and the AFL has them kicking the ball the same way you would expect a punter to do it. They do it for the most part of every game they play in so they hon their skills.

    Anyone with half a brain knows the balls are different - the point remains that rugby out-halves do 95% of what a combined kicker-punter does in the NFL in one way or another, and under far more constant pressure. A good out-half should be able to adapt to the nuances of American football as easily as any Australian Rules players (who never have to deal with the pressure of an entire team bearing down on them when they're making big kicks, whereas that's commonplace for out-halves) and certainly more than soccer players, which both have been piloted by NFL and NCAA teams as well. When a player's used to a certain ball and they have to use a similar but significantly different ball then of course it'll have more of an effect at first as the brain will be wired to what they're used to, but in the long run the conversion should be relatively easy.

    This page makes for some interesting reading on conversions from one code to another, though: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_players_who_have_converted_from_one_football_code_to_another


  • #38
    tallaghtoutlaws
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,067 ✭✭✭tallaghtoutlaws


    Syferus wrote: »
    Anyone with half a brain knows the balls are different - the point remains that rugby out-halves do 95% of what a combined kicker-punter does in the NFL in one way or another, and under far more constant pressure and at least equal importance.

    Oh really? What is your experience with both sports and actually what is your experience with both balls? I deal with guys who have played all sports and have plenty experience in the field and its not as easy of a transition as you are making out. But hey I don't have a brain right? :rolleyes:

    A good out-halve should be able to adapt to the nuances of American football as easily as any Australian Rules players (who never have to deal with the pressure of an entire team bearing down on them when they're making big kicks, whereas that's commonplace for out-halves) and certainly more than soccer players, which both have been piloted by NFL and NCAA teams as well.

    Again where is your experience with guys making transition from one sport to the other that you can say that anyone with half a brain would know this and that you clearly know 100% that this is all fact?


    But see you clearly can't read now can you. I said why would the NFL go to the bother of looking for Rugby players when they have an already large player pool to choose from of guys who already know what they are doing.

    The fact of the matter remains that any Rugby player who tries out for a NFL team will require adjustment to their mechanics and wont fit in right away. NFL teams know this and for most if they can find guys who already have that skilll set from college why would they bother with trying to convert a Rugby player.

    This page makes for some interesting reading on conversions from one code to another, though: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_players_who_have_converted_from_one_football_code_to_another

    As for most of the guys on the rugby to American football list most of them went to a US college where they played American Football. The only kicker among them was Terry Price and he never got his game for the Bills in the 71.


  • #39
    jack presley
    Closed Accounts Posts: 13,687 ✭✭✭✭jack presley


    There was a story a few years back on RTE about some Irish lad heading over to the States to play college football. They did the usual 'action shots' of him on a pitch on his own showing his moves (he was an OL I think?) and they finished off the piece by saying that "he was tipped to make it in the NFL". Afterwards I checked out the college he was going to and it turns out it was a D3 school (and not a very good one at that). It made me laugh anyway.


  • #40
    tallaghtoutlaws
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,067 ✭✭✭tallaghtoutlaws


    jack presley wrote: »
    There was a story a few years back on RTE about some Irish lad heading over to the States to play college football. They did the usual 'action shots' of him on a pitch on his own showing his moves (he was an OL I think?) and they finished off the piece by saying that "he was tipped to make it in the NFL". Afterwards I checked out the college he was going to and it turns out it was a D3 school (and not a very good one at that). It made me laugh anyway.

    That was Glenn Baker as discussed earlier in thread and that was the Irish media being over zealous with their reporting.


  • #41
    Reganio 2
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,732 ✭✭✭Reganio 2


    bruschi wrote: »
    I remember seeing that. I think it was just a sky sports/ sports company promo thing. Olindo Mare was kicking penalties on James. no trial or anything, just a promo thing, like Beckham did with Reggie Bush a couple of years ago.

    Ah maybe that was it. I could have sworn he went over twice though for a try out. I reckon you have it right though.


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  • #42
    tallaghtoutlaws
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,067 ✭✭✭tallaghtoutlaws


    Reganio 2 wrote: »
    Ah maybe that was it. I could have sworn he went over twice though for a try out. I reckon you have it right though.

    He attended a Dolphins training camp by invitation. Something to do with studying their training methods and conditioning methods. While there he tried kicking as a publicity thing.


  • #43
    jack presley
    Closed Accounts Posts: 13,687 ✭✭✭✭jack presley


    tallaghtoutlaws wrote: »
    He attended a Dolphins training camp by invitation. Something to do with studying their training methods and conditioning methods. While there he tried kicking as a publicity thing.

    Was that when him and Martin Johnson were out filming something? I have a vague recollection of the two of them tossing passes to each other.


  • #44
    tallaghtoutlaws
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,067 ✭✭✭tallaghtoutlaws


    jack presley wrote: »
    Was that when him and Martin Johnson were out filming something? I have a vague recollection of the two of them tossing passes to each other.

    That was for another show featuring the Seahawks and 49ers as far as I can remember. Beyond the NFL it was called I think and Sky did it.


  • #45
    Syferus
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,966 ✭✭✭Syferus


    Jesus Tallaght, you seem to assume no one but you has any experience playing or being involved with any sport! :pac:


  • #46
    tallaghtoutlaws
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,067 ✭✭✭tallaghtoutlaws


    Syferus wrote: »
    Jesus Tallaght, you seem to assume no one but you has any experience playing or being involved with any sport! :pac:

    No thats not it at all but when you insult my intelligence we then have a problem. I put questions to you and the fact you avoid them shows me you have never tried comparing the abilities in real life other than sprout off what you read. I mean if you play rugby thats fair enough but you cannot comment on how easy it is for a rugby player to adapt to American Football especially as a kicker without actually experiencing it for yourself or without some evidence of a Rugby player actually doing it first hand or watching a vid of them doing it.

    I gave you accounts of what I have experienced first hand and all you could do is avoid what I said and say I dont have a brain because your opinion apparently is fact. I said it was all opinion based on experience for me.

    Also you completely mis read what I said about why would the NFL want guys they would have to turn into kickers when they already have a large pool of guys who have done it all their lives.

    The unfortunate thing syferus no matter what I write it seems you are always looking for ways to contradict it. Even if I am right. At least with other guys on here when they go toe to toe with me we can debate and agree to disagree to some point if we don't reach a similar stance. I have agreed with a lot of what you wrote in the past but for the last year you have consistently tried picking off some of my posts and you know what its getting old especially when you try debate something I never said. Its funny for a guy who came onto to the forum with as you said at the time a bit of knowledge you seem to have become the expert.:rolleyes:


  • #47
    curry-muff
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,418 ✭✭✭curry-muff


    Habana would have made a decent NFL player.


  • #48
    craggles
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 664 ✭✭✭craggles


    curry-muff wrote: »
    Habana would have made a decent NFL player.

    Based on


  • #49
    Sanity_Saviour
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,036 ✭✭✭Sanity_Saviour


    craggles wrote: »
    Based on

    being quick as fúck


  • #50
    jack presley
    Closed Accounts Posts: 13,687 ✭✭✭✭jack presley


    Sanity_Saviour wrote: »
    being quick as fúck

    Having speed doesn't necessarily mean you'll be a great American footballer. I presume you'd have him down as a WR? It's all well and good outrunning a DB but if you can't get off the line of scrimmage or you can't run a route, you're not worth much.


  • #51
    D3PO
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,879 ✭✭✭D3PO


    Sanity_Saviour wrote: »
    craggles wrote: »
    Based on

    being quick as fúck
    That British sprinter that tried out for the NFL failed miserably can't remember his name. Speed isn't even close to the most important attribute

    Christ look at the giants te Jake Ballard he runs a 5 second 40


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  • #52
    Palmy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 350 ✭✭Palmy


    Jonah Lomu might have done ok in his day.There was talk after the 1995 world cup.
    6ft 5in,120kg and could run 100m in 10.95 sec.:eek:


  • #53
    D3PO
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,879 ✭✭✭D3PO


    Palmy wrote: »
    Jonah Lomu might have done ok in his day.There was talk after the 1995 world cup.
    6ft 5in,120kg and could run 100m in 10.95 sec.:eek:

    Like I said speed is way down the list none of those guys would likely even make an NFL practice squad

    People are underestimating route running , football intelligence knowing when to break off a route , run a hot route, run blocking, having a great vertical leap catching the football etc also the adjustment of a non football player running or even catchiing in pads.

    If you don't play football as a youth your unlikely to make it gates and jimmy Graham exceptions to the rule


  • #54
    Palmy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 350 ✭✭Palmy


    Lomu played Rugby League untill the age of 16,and can step off both feet.Playing league not union you are always looking for a gap in play and thinking fast on your feet.Even a running back i'd say he could of managed.With size,pace, being able to brake tackles although his hands would let him down if the ball wasn't passed directly to him from a short distance.Just a thought.:o


  • #55
    Palmy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 350 ✭✭Palmy


    Just a note did you see the punter for the Packers against the Bucs.He missed his opertunity to punt and had no option to run.It looked like he had never run with a ball in his hand before.Holding it with one hand out in front of him not tucked in,then he fumbles it after about six paces.I know hes a punter but are these guys even taught how to run with the ball?:rolleyes:


  • #56
    tallaghtoutlaws
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,067 ✭✭✭tallaghtoutlaws


    Palmy wrote: »
    .I know hes a punter but are these guys even taught how to run with the ball?:rolleyes:

    No they are not. They would be thought the basics of holding a football but he is a punter for a reason. It was a clear case of a guy out of his depth when he had to move.


  • #57
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭ [Deleted User]


    nfl mad wrote: »
    even though im pretty good at rugby, i dont like it to be honest. Everyone tell's me i will be a star in the future, even my coach stopped my mum in the street not long ago and started going on about how 'great i am' bla bla bla, the man is even going to get some guy out from the irfu or something to have a look, a development coach or something.

    When you like rugby, your friends all analyse your game, and your coach contacts your parents...never mind the country, is it possible that you're from a social circle that differs from most 'ballers? ;)

    The Irish Americans seem to do pretty well at QB, Tom Brady, Rich Gannon, Jim Kelly and presume Jim McMahon has some blood from this island somewhere.


  • #58
    Thud
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,741 ✭✭✭Thud


    jack presley wrote: »
    Having speed doesn't necessarily mean you'll be a great American footballer. I presume you'd have him down as a WR? It's all well and good outrunning a DB but if you can't get off the line of scrimmage or you can't run a route, you're not worth much.

    I would have had him down as a running back
    D3PO wrote: »
    That British sprinter that tried out for the NFL failed miserably can't remember his name. Speed isn't even close to the most important attribute

    Christ look at the giants te Jake Ballard he runs a 5 second 40

    It was Dwain Chambers while on his drugs ban with Hamburg Sea Devils

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dwain_Chambers#NFL_Europa


  • #59
    vinny chase
    Closed Accounts Posts: 816 ✭✭✭vinny chase


    The former American 100m sprinter Justin Gatlin also had a good crack at making an NFL roster. He tried out with the Texans, Titans and Buccs I believe. I think the Buccs brought him to a rookie training camp.

    Couldn't make it with any of them.

    It's definitely about more than speed.


  • #60
    D3PO
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,879 ✭✭✭D3PO


    Thud wrote: »
    I would have had him down as a running back



    It was Dwain Chambers while on his drugs ban with Hamburg Sea Devils

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dwain_Chambers#NFL_Europa

    yep Chmabers thats him coudlnt remember his name


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  • #61
    davyjose
    Closed Accounts Posts: 9,287 ✭✭✭davyjose


    D3PO wrote: »
    Like I said speed is way down the list none of those guys would likely even make an NFL practice squad

    People are underestimating route running , football intelligence knowing when to break off a route , run a hot route, run blocking, having a great vertical leap catching the football etc also the adjustment of a non football player running or even catchiing in pads.

    If you don't play football as a youth your unlikely to make it gates and jimmy Graham exceptions to the rule

    Lomu would've been a savage Linebacker or Safety IMO.


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